Vending machine feed mechanism



m "m mm H. s. BENJAMIN VENDING MACHINE FEED MECHANISM Filed Nov 25. 19512 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTRNEY:

wzmn 7 Sep& M9, 11933 H. s. BENJAMHN VENDING MACHINE FEED MECHANISMFiled Nov.

2 Sheets-finest 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY$ Patented Sept. 7 1 9, 1933 omrsoSTATES 1,927,017' j r V VENDING MACHINE FEED -MECHANISM Harry S.Benjamin, Utica, N. Y.

Application November 25, 1931 Serial N0. 577,288

- '2 Claims. (01. 194-97 This invention relates to means for preventingthe unauthorized operation of a vending machine I of the type describedin my application, Serial Number 436,982, filed March 19, 1930, sincepattool for operating the vending or merchandise discharge members ofsuch machine and which members are normally rotated through the mediumof suitable mechanism including a power transmitting member adapted tobe rotated in one direction only, by power applied thereto when suchmechanism is released by the insertion of a coin in the machine.

. A further object is to provide means for transmitting motion from saidpower transmitting member to another member arranged to be driventhereby, in such a manner that said power transmitting member is alwaysconnected to said member which is to be driven thereby, to transmitmotionthereto, but which connection is such that the driven member willbe immediately locked andheld against turning, upon the application ofany turning power to said driven member or parts connected thereto,other than through the medium of said power transmitting member and itsdriving mechanism when said mechanism is released by the insertion ofacoin in the machine. It is also an object to provide means for thepurpose, which means is simple in construction,

positive in operation, and may be readily embodied in a vending or othermachine of the class or type disclosed in my said application abovereferred to.

7 With the above and other ends in View, the invention consists in thematters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings inwhich a Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section through the lower endportion of a vending machine illustrative of an embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, substantially upon the line 2-2 of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail, substantially upon the line 33 of Fig.1; i

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail substantially upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;and

Fig. 5 is a sectional the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, with parts broken away andin section to disclose'the construction.

Enough of the machine disclosed in my said pending application abovereferred to, is shown in the accompanying drawings to illustrate theapplication of the present invention thereto and detail substantiallyupon 7 the purpose and manner in which it operates in I connectiontherewith, the principal parts of the delivery mechanism and theiroperation, being described as follows:

The machine includes any suitable form of cas- (30 ing 1 for enclosingthe vending mechanism and provided with a detachable back 2 upon whichsaid mechanism is mounted, said back being arranged to support,preferably, four rectangular chutes or magazines 3 for holdingmerchandise in the form of small packages shown in Fig. 1 in one, ofsaid chutes, in superposed relation within said chutes.

These packages are removedJone at a time from the lower ends of thesechutes by means of rotatable feed members or blocks 4, one of said feedblocks being located directly beneath each chute: and each formed with anotch or recess 5 of a shape and size to receive a single package and,when the block is rotated, discharge the same into a single chute 6leading to a delivery cup '7 opening through a Wall of the casing.

. Each of the feed'blocks is secured to a shaft 8 and secured to therear end of each of said shafts, is a gear 9, these gears being in meshwith each other so that all of said blocks will be turned simultaneouslyan equal distance. The four blocks are secured to, their shafts in suchrelative-positions that when the recess 5 in one block is at the upperside thereof, the recess in' the next block is at one side, the recessin the next, block of the series is at the bottom or in dischargeposition and the recess in the last block is at the other side.Therefore at each quarter rotation of the several blocks, a package willbe 9 discharged. It will be understood, however, that any suitablearrangement and construction of discharge'means may be provided, as wellas one or more chutes, this arrangement being merely illustrative of oneconstruction of machine to which the present invention may be applied.

To actuate the train of gears 9 and thus simultaneously rotate all ofthe blocks 4, a plate 10 is mounted on the back wall 2 of the casing forvertical movement thereon, by means of a stud or screw 11 passingthrough a vertical slot 12 in said plate and locatedat one side of saidplate is a horizontal shaft 13 mounted at its rear end on the casingwall 2 and at its forward end in the rear Wall of the chute 6, therebeing sleeved 1 upon said shaft, a power transmitting sleeve 14 to therear end of which sleeve, adjacent the plate 10, is'secured or formedintegral therewith, a ratchet wheel 15, said sleeve being formed at itsforward end, with an outstanding circular flange 11 16 to abut the rearside of a circular block 17 rigidly secured by a pin 18 (see Fig.3) tosaid shaft 13, which block is surrounded by a ring 19 which ring is heldin a fixed position by a stud 20 on the adjacent side wall of the chute6. Secured to the flange 16 on the power transmitting sleeve 14, is astud 21 provided with a sleeve and forming a roller which projects intoa notch. 22 (see Fig. 5) cut in the. periphery of the circular block1'7, and a light coiled spring 23 is interposed between one side of thisroller 21 and'the end wall of the notch, to exert a force to normallyhold the parts with said roller pressed toward the reduced end of saidnotch. Securedto or formed integral with the forward. end of said shaft13, is a gear 24 in mesh with anidler gear 25 which in turn is in meshwith one. of the gears 9 of the train of gears on the shafts 8 on whichshai'ts the feed blocks 4 are secured.

To transmit motion from the plate 10 to turn the ratchet 1'5 and powertransmitting; sleeve 14, an'arm 26 is mounted for freeturning upon, the

rear end of the shaft l 3-adiacent.saidra-tchet and: at its free end,this arm carriesra -stud 27; which projects through and isfree to slidewithin a horizontalv slot 28 in. said, plate 10 Y Pivotally, mountedupon thisst-ud 27 is a pawl 2 9.having a. tail portion to. which acoiledspring 30 is attached to normally exert a turning force upon said pawlandhold the same against the periphcry of the ratchet 15. A. stop pin31. on the back wall of the casing is-positioned so that the en-.-

gaging end of the pawl will be; caught; between said pin and wheelwhenthe plate 10 is at the upper endof. its stroke and the-pawl is in ahorizontal position and lying within one of the notchesof. the ratchetwheel. The ratchet wheel:

is thus locked against turning andthe plate is limited inits upmovement, not only, by the length said ratchet, saidhead having aninclined, topface so that theratchetwhen turned by said pawl 29,. will.slide past. said head, forcing the plunger longitudinally, against theaction of a spring sleeved on said. plunger between its head and saidbracket, said spring thus normally holding said. plunger engagedin anotch of the ratchet and positively preventing turning movement of, theratchet in a directionopposite to that in which it is turned bysaidipaw-l, due tov the engagement of said. head with astraight orradialside face of the ratchet. notch.

To actuate theslide platelO and to guide the lower end thereof, a. powershaft 36 (seezFig. 1*) is mountedv to extend in parallelism withv saidshaft 13 through a vertical slot in the lower end portion of said.plate, andthisshaft is extendedthrough an opening in. the casing walland is provided with suitable means, (notv shown) for turning thesamernanually, On'this shaft is a cain'inember. indicatedat 337 in=lfig. 1, which is;

arranged ina suitable-manner; to lift said plate and-through suchmovement ofsaid-plate, actuatethe delivery mechanism.

To normally holdthis shaft 36 against turning J more than, a limited:distance. and; thusprevent; or the operation. of the deliverymechanism-to de- To control the downward movement of the actuating plate10 so that if no coin or a coin other than a good one be inserted in themachine, the plate will be stopped to prevent the deliveryofmerchandise, coin controlled mechanism is provided, this mechanismincluding a laterally extending lug 41 on the upper end of said plate10. (see Fig. l) to engage a stop rne1nberizwhich is pivotally supportedto swing into and out of. the path of said lug, said stop mernher beingadapted to be swung by a bar 43 pivotally, connected therewith at itsupper end, the lowenend of; said bar being pivotally. connected.

to the free end of a swinging arm pivotally supported at itsopposite endupon the lower end Off a coin, chute 45 and provided with a notch orshoulder 46 tozengage a stop arm 47 having a laterally bentend portion48 adapted to be. projected through a, side opening in the chute acrossthe path; of; a coin passing down said chute. To swing; said arm i i andbring it into latched; or normal position with its end ii; re-

tracted iromacross said-chute, suitablemeans is provided onithe shaft36, all as fully shown-and described in my pending application beforereed-. 0. p

Asset forthin; said pending application, other mechanism is provided; inconnection with the ooincontrolled mechanism, for detecting spuriouscoins. and; other.- substitutes, so that when substitutes for goodccins-are inserted; the machine will. not operate to, delivermerchandise, all as fully set forthand described-in mypending ap- Iplication, the drawings oi the present application disclosing-only justsuflicient parts of: such coin controlled mechanism-to identifythe-present type of machine. and show that'it embodies such mechanisms,the present invention relating to means; in such, a, machine and incombination with such; mechanisms, for preventing the deliveryniechanism of the machine from, bein operated by a. wire orother: deviceinserted and manipulated to engage-and move parts of thedeliverymechanism, to deliver; merchandise VVlthr out the insertion of agood coin, V a

By; inserting suitable motion transmitting means between the delivery,mechanism, for ef fectingthe; delivery of. the merchandise, and thepower transmitting sleeve is which is operated by the operation of thenormally lockedirnanually operatedzshaft: 36, andgwhich shaft. isadapted to be. lllllOCkGd; by means of the coin. controlled mechanism,as: herein set forth, said deliverymechanism; isprevented from beingoperated by a wire or other tool insertedthroughtheopenendof,themerchandisechute 6 andrup into engagement withone of the delivery blocks 4 or gears -9 connectedtherewith. This motiontrans mitting means comprises the circular block 1 ever the sleeve isturned in a clockwise direction, itwill move said stud roller toward thelarge end of the notch 22 against the action of the light spring 23,and-coming into engagement with said end of the notch, will carry theblock around with it and through the firm connection of this block withthe shaft 13, will transmit motion to the gear 24 on the end of saidshaft and thus transmit motion to the gears 9 to rotate the deliveryblocks 4 and deliver merchandise. This connection is therefore alwaysoperative to transmit motion from said sleeve to the delivery mechanism,but should an attempt be made to turn said gears or delivery blocks, ina direction which will turn the block 17 in a clockwise direction, theroller 21 will immediately be wedged within the small end of the notchbetween said block and the fixed ring 19 and prevent rotation of thegear 24, and as the ratchet 15 and consequently the sleeve 11 are at alltimes prevented from counter clockwise rotation by the plunger 32, theturning of the delivery blocks in either direction is prevented atalltimes except when the sleeve 1% is turned through the medium of the coincontrolled power transmitting mechanism after the unlocking of saidmechanism by the insertion of a good coin.

Therefore the operation of the delivery mechanism to, delivermerchandise is positively prevented at all times except through themedium of the power transmitting means afterthe same has been releasedby the coin controlled mechanism.

Obviously the present invention relates to the combination, in a vendingmachine, of coin controlled power transmitting mechanism, deliverymechanism, and interposed means for transmitting motion from said coincontrolled mechanism to said deliverymechanism, which means is efiectiveto prevent such transmission of motion when said delivery mechanism isoperated by other than said coin controlled mechanism, and applies toany form or arrangement of coin controlled power transmitting mechanismand also any suitable form or arrangement of delivery mechanism in avending machine employing such mechanisms.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is: Y

1. In a machine of the character described including motion transmittingcoin controlled mechanism and merchandise delivery mechanism, of motiontransmitting means interposed between said mechanisms and operative atall times to transmit motion from said coin controlled mechanism to saiddelivery mechanism when said coin controlled mechanism is operative andadapted to prevent the transmission of motion between said mechanismswhen said coin controlled mechanism is inoperative, said means includingan element movable by the coincontrolled mechanism and limited tomovement in one direction by said mechanism, a second element movablewith the delivery mechanism, said elements being co-operative in drivingthe delivery mechanism during permitted movement of the first elementwhen the coin-controlled mechanism is operative, and a stationary guardmember for said elements, said guard member being inactive in thecontrol of element movements when the coin-controlled mechanism isoperative and cooperative with said elements to prevent element movementwhen the latter mechanism is inoperative.

2. In a machine of the character described inmitting. motion from one tothe other of said mechanisms, said means being arranged to transmitmotion from said coin controlled mechanism to said delivery mechanismwhen said coin controlled mechanism is rendered operative by theinsertion of'a coin, said means being also constructed to prevent theoperation of said delivery mechanism by means other than said coincontrolled mechanism, said means including an element movable by, thecoin-controlled mechanism and limited to movement in one direction bysaid mechanism, a second element movable with the delivery mechanism,said elements being co-operative in driving the delivery mechanismduring permitted movement of the first element when the coin-controlledmechanism is operative, and a stationary guard member for said elements,said guard member being inactive in the control of element movementswhen the coin-controlled mechanism is operative and cooperative withsaid elements to prevent element movement when the latter mechanism isinoperative.

3. In a machine of the character described including motion transmittingcoin controlled mechanism and merchandise delivery mechanism, of motiontransmitting means interposed between said mechanisms for transmittingmotion from one to the other of said mechanisms said coin controlledmechanism in one direction to transmit motion to said deliverymechanism, means for preventing rotation of said member and including arotatable member rotated by in an opposite direction, and means fortrans- I mitting motion from said member to drive said.

delivery mechanism when said member is rotated by said coin controlledmechanism and for pre venting operation of said delivery mechanism bymeans other than said member, said means including an element movablewith the delivery mechanism and co-operative with the rotatable memberto drive said mechanism 'during member permitted movement, and astationary guard member for the element and rotatable member, said guardmember being inactive in the'control of element movement duringpermitted rotatable member movement and co-operative with the elementand rotatable member to prevent element movement when thecoin-controlled mechanism is inoperative.

4. In a machine of the character described including motion transmittingcoin controlled mechanism and merchandise delivery mechanism, of motiontransmitting means interposed between said mechanisms for transmittingmotion from one to the other of said mechanisms and including arotatable member rotated by said coin controlled mechanism in a forwarddirection to transmit motion to said delivery mechanism when said coincontrolled mechanism is made operative by the insertion of a coin, meansfor preventing backward rotation of said member, and means fortransmitting motion from said member to drive said delivery mechanismwhen said member is rotated in a forward direction and for preventingrotation of said member in said forward direction by means other thansaid coin controlled mechanism, said means including an element movablewith the delivery mechanism and co-operative with the rotatable memberto drive said mechanism during member permitted movement, and astationary guard member for the element and rotatable member,saidguardmember being inactive in the control of element movement duringpermitted rotat able member movement and co-operative with the elementand rotatable member to prevent element movement when thecoin-controlled mechanism is'inoperative, whereby the operation of saiddelivery mechanism is prevented except when operated by the forwardturning of said member when driven by -'said coin controlled mechanism.V

5. in a'machineof the'characterdescribedincluding manually operatedmotion transmitting mechanism, coin controlled means for controllingthe-operation of said mechanism, and merchandise .delive'ry mechanism,of motion transmitting means interposed between said mechanisnis fortransmitting motion from one to the other of said mechanisms andincluding a rotatable sleeve member limited to rotation in one directionby said motion transmitting mechanism when'made operative by insertingacoin in said coin controlled means, a member adapted to be rotated bysaid sleeve and operatively con- "nected' to said delivery mechanism, aone way connecting means between said sleeve and member, said meansincluding an element. movable by the sleeve member, a second elementmovable with the delivery mechanism, said elements being co-operatingin-driving the delivery mechanism during permitted movement of the firstelement when'the coin-controlled means is operative,.and astationaryguard member for said elements inactive in the control of element move--ments1-when the coin-controlled means is operative ;and'co-operatingwith said elements to prevent element movement when the coin-controlledmeans is inoperative.

6. In amachine of the character described in- --cluding motiontransmitting coin controlled mechanism, and merchandise deliverymechanism including a gear for operating the same, of motiontransmitting means interposed between v said. coin controlled mechanismand said gear 'and'including a sleeve in opposed relation tosaid gearand adapted to be rotated in a forward direction bysaid motiontransmitting coin controlled mechanism, means for preventing rotation ofsaid sleeve in a backward direction, and one way driving'meansinterposed between said sleeve and saidgear 'for driving said gear inaforward direction when said sleeve is rotated forwardly by said coincontrolled mechanism-and for preventing 'forwardtu'rning of saidgear byexternal power applied to said delivery mechanism, said means includingan element movable with the sleeve member, asecond element movablewith'the g'ean said elements being co-Operative to'drive "the gear whenthe coin-controlled mechanism is operative, and a stationary guardmember for said elements-said guard member being inactive in the controlof elementmovemerits when the oom-controlled mechanism is operative andco-operative with said elements to prevent element'movemerit when thelattermechanism is inoperative.

7. In a machine of the character described including motion transmittingcoin controlled mechanism, and merchandise delivery mechanism including'agear for operating-the same, of motion-transmitting means interposedbetween said coin controlled -mechanism and said gear and including asleeve in *opposed relation to said gearand adapted to berotated in aforwarddirection by said =motion transmitting coin controlled-mechanism,means for preventing rotation of said sleeve in 'a backward direction, ashaft to which said gear is secured and upon which said-sleeve is freeto turn, a'block secured to said shaft and formed with a peripheralnotch, a fixed ringmember-surrounding said block, and astudmember onsaid sleeve projecting into said notch, said ring member being inactivein the control 'of block and stud member movements when thecoin-controlledmechanism is operative and co-operative with the blockand stud member to prevent block movement when the latter mechanism i'sinoperative, whereby when said sleeve is rotated'in aforward direction,said stud member will be moved toward-one end of said notch and drivesaid block in a forward directionto transmit forward motion from saidsleeve to said gear and operate said delivery mechanismand wherebyaforward turning of said gear by power-applied tosaid'delivery mechanismwille'a'use-a wedging of-said studmember within the opposite end of saidnotch'between said block and ringand lock said gear against forwardrotation.

-I-IARRY S. BENJAMIN.

